Coffee-making machine



COFFEE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1943 INVENTOR msso L. LAEREMAN.

A T TORNEY.

Patented Apr. 9, 1946 Tasso L. Laer eman, sanjtFrancilsleogca li'fr Applicationhilyfi; 1943,Seria=l"N0. 493l645 L .9 CIaimsQ. (o1. 99*233),

The present invention relates to improverr-ients in-a-coftee making machine,-and its principal object is to provide a-machine'in which coffee can be made commercially at a great savingof time on the part of the operator.

A .further obj ect ofmy invention is to provide-a machine "of the character described whic-hmakes liquid coifiee thatis of veryfine quality and come out of themachine absolutely clear.

A still further object of the inventiondsto provide a machine of the character described in which the washing, of the urn or bowl is greatly facilitated.

"It is further proposed to provide a, cofiee making-machine that operates almost automatically,

and in which the liquid cofiee iswithdrawn from the coffee bowl automatically at a predetermined time after the water has beenqpoured upon the coffee.

It is further proposed to providespecial straining means for withdrawingthe'liquid coffee and tion.

Further objects'and advantages of my invention will appear as "the specification proceeds and the novel features of the invention will be fully set forthin the claims hereto appended.

The preferredformof my: invention is illustrate ed in the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification; inwhich:

Figure lis a'vertical section-through my cofiee making machine; various operating mechanisms being shown schematicallwand Figure '2, a. horizontal section taken along line 2-2 of Figural,

While I*have-rshown onlyjthe preferred form of my invention, -I 'wish'jto-have it understood that various changes or modification .mayflbe made within the scope ofthe claims hereto attached without invention.

Referring to the drawingin detail, the-bowl I ispreferably of 'glass'or similar-material and'may be cylindrical in shape as -showmwith :a"flat"bot-.

tom',"'indicatedat*2 -Thelatteris "formedwith an departing 'from "the spirit of the 23 the contact member ZZLbeing operated by'a timing device24f, which latter is set'by an army 25 injected into the siphon tube and causes, thejli uid;in the tube .to rise to its maximum height in openingaa leading to a discharge-orwaste pipe 4, and-adapted tobe closed by means of a-valve 5. l Theval-ve has a stem fi projecting downwardly therefrom and may be lifted oif its seat bymeans of any suitable mechanism, ,asbythe rack and pinion arrangement shown at 1 and actuated, through a'sui-table belt '8, by means'of ahandle 9 on-ahorizontal shaft [0. l

' A spring pressed locking-key H is adapted to engage underneath a -'catch l2- for holding the valve in raised position; and is adapted to be pulled away from the catch for releasing the valve byrneans of a cord=I3 operated by-the lid-for the bowl as hereinafter described.

A dome-shaped partition or diaphragm I4 is disposedon the bottom of-the bowl. This path-- tion is *preferablymade'of -glass and has a ground edge adapted to allow liquid to seep underneath the same --while preventing the passing of any grounds or solid particles. While, it -is realized that theseeping action isnaturally slow, it should lie-understood that the dome-shaped partition is of considerable-size; and thus presents alongcircumference. Since the liquid seepsunderneath the edgeall'along the circumference, the total seepage is amply sufiicient tokeep up with-the discharge means; which may be described as follows:

A siphon tube t5 is-preferably fastened-to the partition I 4 in such a manner that one extremityprojects "into the space underneath the partition withinelose'proximity of the-bottom: of the bowl, while'the other enddischarges through or over the :upper section of thebowl in the well-known manner of a siphon. Since, in the operation of the-machine,thepartition M is lifted, the siphon should be-provided with asliding joint, as at IT, orany suitable equivalent.

Eorinitiating siphoning-action, I provide an injector l8infthe form ofa tube connected to the water j'supplydlfl; andcontrolled by avalve '20 operated bya solenoid Zlpwhichlatter isenergized'ibya 1 contact'member 22 "strikinga contact in onedirection V 4 When'the valve 201s opened, ajet of wateriis,

on the shaft illgwhlen thehandle "B -is operated the tube and to descend 'forfisiphoning action; The siphon; may discharge into a. suitable I-reservoir, not shown, from whichtheliquideofiee. ay. be. withdrawn as desired; Suitable means, not shown, are provided for returning the solenoid shaped partition J4 to. provide spacev between the bottom e gepr; the partition andfthe bottom of the bowl to allow the coffee grounds to be flushed through said space into the discharge pipe 4.

Thebowl I is provided with a lid 26 hinged as I at 21. The lid may be lifted by means of a handle 28 or any other suitable means, and is preferably provided with a suitable retarding'device, such as the dash pot 29 to ease its return movement. The lid operates the locking key II through the cord I3, which is attached to the lid as at I3.

When the lid is lifted, ground coffee may beintroduced manually-to cometo rest onthe dome I4, which lies on the floor of the bowl at that time,.so that no solid coffeeparticles may enter underneath the dome. M a

After the ground colfeehas been introduced, thev lid is, closed manually and hot water is then introduced through thepipe39 which extends through the wall of the bowl and l elminates in a distributor head .3I arranged centrally in the bowl, and at an appropriate height above the bottom ofthe same. 0 7

The pipe 30 communicates with thehot water supply I9 and is controlled by a valve 32, which may be operated manually, through a belt 33, by a clockwise throw of the handle 9. When the Water in, the bowl reaches the right height, the handle9 is manually returned to its original vertical position to stop the flow of the water.

After an appropriate time, say about three min-.

utes, hasexpired for thelbrewing of the coifee, the contact member 22 strikes the contact 23 and thereby initiates the siphoning action for draw ing off the liquid coffee ingthe manner previously described.

But during the brewing of the coffee, the coffee grounds rise to the top of the liquid and form a heavy layer floating on top of the liquid This layer, as is well known in the art, has to be stirred in order to cause the solids to settle. To accomplish this I provide a propeller in the bowl at the approximate height of the layer of coffee grounds. This propeller is driven in any suitable manner, by water pressure, or any other conven ient means. Where water pressure is used, water may be admitted through the pipe 36 communicating with the water Sl pply I 9 andcontrolled by the valve 31 which latter is operated by a solenoid 38. This solenoid is energized bymeans of the' contact 22" striking a second contact39 arranged slightly in: a'dvance'of contact 23. Thus,

the OI'ilia-Gt member 22, 01 1 itsfltullidfilbilliint, first operates the valve '31 for actuatingthe are, p'el1er'35'and causing the solids to tanzas "a; little later strikes the contact 23 for starting the siphoningactioni returning the solenoid38 and for closing the valve 3T "after the desired function has been performed.

" For flushing the bowl after the liquid cofiee has suitable means, not shown, are. provided-for,

valve 5 and the dome I4, through the rack and pinion arrangement I, the parts being locked in this position by the key I I. It further opens the valve 32, which is of the three way type, to admit water to the distributing head 3I, whereby the grounds are flushed past the bottom edge of the raised dome I4 and into the waste pipe 4.

It is desirable to use for the flushing operation, water of, slightly lower.. temp er ature than that used f or brewingithe cofi ejajand thewater for the flushing operation may, therefore, be taken from the supply at a lower elevation, as through the pipe 40 connecting with the three-way valve 32.

The operation of my coffeemaking machine may be described as follows: The drawing shows the different parts in the positions they would .occupy afterthe cofiee has been poured into the bowl I. In this position, the valve 5 is closed, the dome I4 rests on the floor of the bowl and the handle 9 is in neutral or upright position.

For filling hot water into the bowl, the operator turns the handle 9 clockwise. This opens the valve 32 to admit hot water from the top of the supply tank I9 to the distributor head 3i and into the bowl. It also; sets the timing device 24 through the arms 25 and 34. .After the bowl is filled to a suitable height, the operator returns the handle 9 to neutral position for shutting off the water supply. g

The timing device begins to operate, and after a suitable time, the contact member 22 strikes the contact 39, energizing solenoid 38 and opening valve 31 to operate the propeller 35 for breaking up the layerof coffee grounds on top of the liquid in the bowl and for causing the grounds to settle. Y g

Shortly, thereafter, the contact member 22 of the timing device strikes the second contact 23, energizing the solenoid 2| and opening the valve 29 'for injecting water intoth e; siphon tube I5 and for starting siphoning action. The liquid coffee is now slowly drained from underneath the dome-shaped partition I4 and discharged into asuitable reservoir.

It should be particularly noted that the liquid coffee is thoroughly strained and filtered by passing throughthe coffee grounds lying on'top of the dome and by seeping underneaththe edge of the dome. Asa result perfectly ,clear coffee is obtained, and no solid particles are siphoned over. After the liquid coffee has'been siphoned off,

the operator turns the handle 9 in counter-clockwaste. pipe '4; The operator then returns the.

handle 9 to neutralposition. 4 p

To begin a new operatioi'the attendant lifts the lid 26, which causes the cord I3 to pull the locking key II from underneath the catch ,I2 and allows the valve andthedome I4 to besatecl again." He thenjfill's a new quantity of' 'ground coffee into fthelbowl, allows the lid to slowly drop back into position, and starts a new series of operations, as previously described.

Iclaimi H 1. In a. coffee mak'ing. machine, a bowl for holding ground coffee and liquid coffee, a domeshaped partition overlyingthebottom ofthe bowl ter-clockwise direction. This operation lifts the and having a straining fit with the latter, a siphon tube carried by the partition and having one end projecting into the space underneath the partition and means for injecting a liquid into said space for starting siphoning operations.

2. In a coffee making machine, a bowl, a domeshaped partition overlying the bottom of the bowl and having a straining fit with the latter and being adapted to support ground coffee thereon, means for feeding water into the bowl above the partition, means for siphoning liquid coffee from the space below the partition, and means operable in predetermined timed relation to the feeding operation for initiating the siphoning action.

3. In a coffee making machine, a bowl for holding coffee solids therein, mechanical means for feeding water into the bowl, a timing device, means operable in conjunction with the water feeding means for setting the timing device, means for agitating coffee solids floating on the liquid, means for withdrawing liquid coifee from the bowl, and means operated by the timing device for successively actuating the agitating and withdrawal means.

4. In a coffee making machine, a bowl for holding coffee grounds and liquid coffee, the bowl having a closed, glass-like bottom substantially commensurate with its lateral dimensions, a dome-shaped partition over the bottom of the bowl to support the grounds thereon, the parti- 3 tion having a ground glass bottom edge fitting on the bottom of the bowl and substantially co-extensive therewith to allow liquid to seep therebetween, and siphon means for withdrawing liquid coffee from underneath the partition, the l 6. In a coffee making machine, a bowl for holding ground coifee and liquid coffee, a partition overlying the bottom of thebowl and having a straining fit with the latter, the partition and the bowl being shaped to form a chamber therebetween, a siphon tube carried by the partition and having one end projecting into the chamber, and means for injecting a liquid into said chamber for starting siphoning operations.

'7. In a coffee making machine, a bowl, a partition overlying the bottom of the bowl and having a straining fit with the latter and being adapted to support ground coffee thereon, the partition and the bottom of the bowl being shaped to form a chamber therebetween, means for feeding water into the bowlabove the partition, means for siphoning liquid coffee from thesaid chamber, and means operable in predetermined timed relation to the feeding operation for initiating siphoning action.

8. In a coffee making machine, a bowl for holding ground coffee and liquid coffee, a partition overlying the bottom of the bowl and having a straining fit with the latter, the partition and the bowl being shaped to form a chamber therebetween, a siphon tube having one end projecting into the chamber, and means for injecting a liquid edge fitting on the bottom of the bowl and substantially co-extensive therewith to allow liquid slow seepage therebetween, and siphon means for withdrawing liquid coffee from said chamber, the slow seepage serving to exclude all solid matter from the chamber and the large seepage area serving to feed the liquid at a suificient speed to maintain siphon action.

TASSO L. LAERE'MAN. 

